Exchange Meeting for Nakano Ward Disaster Prevention Leaders was Held
On Saturday, June 21st, the Exchange Meeting for Nakano Ward Disaster Prevention Leaders was held at the ward office. On Saturday, May 24th, a ceremony to certify five foreign disaster prevention leaders was held, who had been working for a year. A total of 10 foreign disaster prevention leaders, including four out of the five certified leaders and ones studying to become leaders, as well as 22 Japanese disaster prevention leaders and local people participated. The non-Japanese participants were from China, America, France, Taiwan, Russia, and Mexico. This was the first time that foreign disaster prevention leaders and Japanese disaster prevention leaders had interacted with each other.
In the first half, a Japanese disaster prevention leader reported about the current status of disasters and evacuation centers.
In the latter half, Japanese people asked some questions to the foreign disaster prevention leaders.
In response to the question, “Why did you become a foreign disaster prevention leader?” some people answered, “The environment is so different in my home country that I don’t have to worry about heavy rain or earthquakes there, that’s why I don’t have the knowledge of the disasters” and “I want to help foreigners.”
In response to the question, “Which is better for signs and other things: with a foreign language or ‘Easy Japanese’?” one response was, ‘Easy Japanese’, which meanings can be searched, is better than incorrect translations. Long, difficult Japanese makes people lose interest in reading, so short Japanese is easier to understand.”
It was a meaningful exchange meeting where foreigners and Japanese people were able to realize things they didn’t know about each other before.
